Introducing the Funding and Finance Group

Since 2015, WILDLABS has had one purpose: to better support the conservation technology community. WILDLABS’ State of Conservation Technology research comes back with a similar perspective time and time again: funding is a barrier to success and advancements in the field. This group will create a space to discuss, collaborate, and share funding opportunities (such as grants and awards), as well as perspectives on finance (such as loans and venture capital investment). 

The group offers a space to: 

• Ask questions and discuss finding and applying for funding and finance opportunities 
• Share and learn about opportunities 
• Publish support resources like grant-writing courses, grant-finding databases, consultant-influencers blogs/medium/linkedin, project planning courses, and more 
• Ask for and provide peer feedback on draft applications 
• Learn about funding and finance providers’ views and practices through webinars, interviews, and events 
• Find collaborators or mentors 
• Connect sponsors with applicants 

If you have any more ideas on how this group can support the WILDLABS community, please reach out to one of the group leaders below.

Welcoming our new Group Leaders 

For the next year, our three new group leaders, Henry Rees and Frank van der Most, will help curate a vibrant space for community and collaboration for all those interested in Funding and Finance related to conservation. If you see them around WILDLABS, please give them a warm welcome and get in touch!

Frank van der Most 

@Frank_van_der_Most  has a mixed background in IT and the study of science, technology and society, where he did his PhD research on how funding works in science. A few years ago, he realized that the planet and nature needed more help, so he decided to quit his job and change his career. Now, he is aiming his interests towards funding in nature conservation. He lives in a forest in Costa Rica. 

Henry Rees 

@HRees has worked as a trainer in planning and fundraising for conservation projects for four years, his experience in capacity building, grant writing, and impact assessment means that he can support community members with delivering their projects. Henry works out of Cambridge, UK. 

About the Group Leadership Programme

The WILDLABS Group Leadership Programme is a volunteer-based, year-long cohort programme that invites WILDLABS community members to curate vibrant spaces where people in conservation tech can get help, connect with peers, find support, and meaningfully engage within a niche group. This year's cohort is running from July 2024 to July 2025. To learn more about the Group Leadership Programme, review the handbook here. 

We would love to hear from you 

If you want to learn more about the Funding and Finance community and how you can get involved, reach out to Frank, Henry, or Alex. Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas about growing the Funding and Finance community in the discussion thread below!

Photo credit: Jitu Mondal